Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister
1 August 2004
London Astoria

The sign outside the Astoria proudly proclaimed Twisted Sister - 18 years later, being the number of years it has been since they were last on our shores. Dee Snider tells us that when the band reunited last year they wanted to come over to the U.K., but the promoters told them that nobody would come. Well they did tonight as the Astoria is packed to the rafters and hotter than hell.

As the lights go out Rocky Horror Show tune Time Warp blares out, followed, as is traditional, by AC/DC`s Long Way To The Top. A shadowy figure of A.J. Pero takes his place behind the drum kit, before suddenly the chugging intro riff of What You Don`t Know (Sure Can Hurt You) begins. 18 years later and the prodigal SMF`s are finally before us, with Dee welcoming us to the show. Meanwhile, guitarists Jay Jay French, Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and bassists Mark "The Animal" Mendoza stand facing their amps, until the moment the beat kicks in when the lights go on and we are confronted by Twisted Sister in all their made up glory!

Predictably The Kids Are Back follows next, and though these certainly aren`t kids on the stage tonight they are still full of energy and capable of a band unison star jump and rocking to Under The Blade. Having already brutalised his bass with some severe pounding, The Animal lives up to his name by losing patience with his mic stand and trashing it. It seems the mic stands are in the frontline tonight as Jay Jay performs the same act late in the set.

The familiar slow beat to Destroyer has Dee telling us, "You`ve got hands …use them!" and of course is greeted by a sea of clapping hands. In fact Dee has this crowd in the palm of his hand from start to finish and those that don`t want to participate are told to "Get the f**k out!", which Dee tells us was a line stolen from him by one Sebastian Bach.

The stage show is kept to a bare minimum tonight, though with characters as colourful as these it`s not really required. Burn In Hell was as sophisticated as it got with Dee swathed in red light stage front. Dee is always going to be the main focal point, but it has to be said the rest of the band appear much more confident and proficient than when I saw them at Sweden Rock last year at the beginning of their reformation. Eddie Ojeda in particular seemed rather distant from the rest of the band in Sweden but tonight he`s pulling shapes and rocking out with the band.

My only criticism of tonight`s gig would be Mark Mendoza`s bass sound which seemed to have the middle turned up to full and sat uncomfortably on top of the mix, particularly when he`s braying seven shades out of the instrument. A small complaint however and hopefully the sound will be mixed on the pay-per view showing for which tonight`s gig is apparently being filmed.

Prior to The Fire Still Burns, its Jay Jay`s turn to take the mic and tells us "We owe you for saving our asses" as back in 1982 the band were at the point of splitting up, before their successful trip to the U.K. which kick started their career. Meanwhile later, Dee recounts the anomaly of "Mom & Dad`s shock" at seeing Twisted Sister performing on The Tube, whereas it was OK to like Culture Club! The delivery of such banter, it has to be said, is often as entertaining as the songs and is an integral part of the Twisted experience, as testified by the scornful looks at the guy near us constantly shouting for them to get on with it.

Predictable tonight`s set has be tailored with the U.K. in mind and the big hits I Am, I`m Me and I Wanna Rock close out the main set. The creepy "Come out and play Twisted Sister" intro to the same song, welcomes the band back to the stage, before they close their set with a storming SMF.

Leaving the venue the common consensus was that it shouldn`t be 18 years before Twisted Sister visit us once more.

Twisted Sister Set List:
Intro (Time Warp / Long Way To The Top) / What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You) / The Kids Are Back / Under The Blade / Destroyer / Like A Knife In The Back / Burn In Hell / Ride To Live / Shoot 'Em Down / You Can't Stop Rock N' Roll / The Fire Still Burns / We're Not Gonna Take It / The Price / I Am, I'm Me / I Wanna Rock / Come Out & Play / S.M.F.

LINKS:
Twisted Sister